Caridad G. Asensio (1931– October 31, 2011) was a Cuban-American migrant worker advocate.
Caridad Asensio | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1931 Cuba |
| Died | October 31, 2011 Miami |
| Known for | Caridad Health Clinic |
| Children | 2 |
| Honors | Florida Women's Hall of Fame |
| Website | caridad |
Early life
editAsensio was born in Cuba alongside two sisters.[1] She was raised and married in Cuba until Fidel Castro took power, which is when she emigrated to New York and then Boca Raton, Florida with her family.[2]
Career
editAfter Asensio and her family moved to Florida in 1960, she worked at Hagen Road Elementary School as a social worker and health educator. While there, she met her future co-founder Connie Berry who was a teacher at the school.[3] Asensio soon began volunteering at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Mission in Delray Beach[4] and eventually founded the Migrant Association in a trailer to provide low-cost housing to migrant workers.[2] Two years later, Asensio and Berry co-founded the Caridad Health Clinic which operated with the assistance of volunteer doctors and dentists.[3] The Clinic was the first in South Florida to provide free health care to farm workers and their families.[5] By 1992, the Migrant Association moved 79 families into stable livable trailers.[6]
As a result of its early success, the association moved to a $2.5 million clinic dubbed the Caridad Center within its first five years of operation.[7] In 1995, Asensio was awarded the JCPenney Golden Rule Award for her migrant worker advocacy[8] and the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition President's Award.[9] On December 3, 2001, Asensio was hit by a car while crossing the street and went into a coma.[10] Although she regained her ability to speak, she had difficulty walking.[11] In 2005, Asensio was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.[12] Caridad died on October 31, 2011, after experiencing a seizure.[7]
Personal life
editAsensio and her husband have two children together. Her son Manuel P. Asensio was the proprietor of a small brokerage firm.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Hispanic Heritage Month Caridad Asensio (1931-2011)". pbchistoryonline.org. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Huriash, Lisa J. (November 12, 1997). "ANGELS OF THE FIELDS". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Streeter, Angel (October 31, 2011). "Co-founder of Caridad Center west of Boynton Beach dies". The Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Nancy L. OthM-sn (December 5, 2001). "WOMAN HELPED MANY, NOW THEY PRAY FOR HER". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "Caridad Asensio". flwomenshalloffame.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Harakas, Margo (August 22, 1992). "FAITH, HOPE AND CARIDAD A CHAMPION OF MIGRANT FAMILIES PUSHES AND PERSUADES UNTIL SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS -- A CLINIC FOR THE KIDS". The Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Roldan, Cynthia (October 31, 2011). "Caridad Asensio, migrant worker advocate, dies at 79". gm5-lkweb.newscyclecloud.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Simon, Laura (November 10, 1995). "GOLDEN RULE AWARD HONORS MIGRANT ASSOCIATION FOUNDER". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Simon, Laura (June 2, 1995). "LITERACY GROUP, VOLUNTEERS ANNOUNCE AWARD RECIPIENTS". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "Holidays gloomier at clinic where founder hospitalized". Northwest Florida Daily News. Florida. December 25, 2001.
- ^ Pensa, Patty (December 3, 2004). "Migrant Clinic Founder Finalist For Award". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "DIGEST". The Sun-Sentinel. January 7, 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Eaton, Leslie (March 11, 1998). "A Stock Crusader In a Short-Seller Suit; He Says Blunt Talk Fights Fraud, But Critics Say He Talks Too Much". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
